Pro Bowl Needs Reality

CHARLES BRICKER ON THE NFL

On Dec. 22, the NFL will announce the names of the players who have been chosen for the Pro Bowl and, as usual, there will be several undeserving elected.

Last time I looked, Kevin Gogan, the Dolphins' garrulous part-time guard, was leading the voting at his position. That's what happens when you leave the decision to the fans and players.

The fans cram the ballot box for the players on their team. As for the players, what do they know? You think these guys go home after a tough day at the office and review tape of other clubs so they can do a diligent job when it's time to vote? Or analyze the weekly stat sheets for anything other than their own numbers?

Players cast their ballots for players at the top of the charts. That's why Simeon Rice is going to the Pro Bowl. He has 13 sacks, but he can't stop the run in a stocking.

The accompanying chart lists my choices and, as great as they have been in past years, Jerry Rice, Steve Young and, yes, even Gogan don't make the team. Gogan would make my all-quip team, not my all-star team.

Players who are having a down 1999 don't make it. No slack is cut. These are the men doing well this season. No Troy Aikman, who has suffered with a deficient receiving corps. And no Dermontti Dawson, one of the greatest centers of all time but a man who has been injured too long to make this list as a starter.

The list reflects the teams that are doing well. Five players from Jacksonville. Six players from Indianapolis. Six players from St. Louis.

The punters aren't the men who have the highest gross average or even the best net average. They're the kickers who have been consistent and accurate and who have few returns -- Darren Bennett of San Diego and Mitch Berger at Minnesota.

There are two rookies on the team, both from the Colts -- another tribute to President and General Manager Bill Polian's eye for talent. They are running back Edgerrin James and kick returner Terrence Wilkins, who was undrafted.

There are some deserving new names on the list -- strong safety Reggie Tongue of the Chiefs, linebacker Stephen Boyd of the Lions and free safety Perry Ellsworth of the Giants.

Of course, a lot of quality players are not listed. But most of them will either be taken as starters or backups in the fan/player poll.

Run it up

This isn't college football. This is the NFL, where piling up points has its place. In fact, it might be critical if Jacksonville (11-1) and Indianapolis (10-2) finish the regular season with the same overall and conference won-lost marks.

They're competing against each other for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

They would have to go down to the No. 4 tiebreaking procedure, and that's point differential in AFC games. Right now, the Jaguars are plus-95 and the Colts plus-65.

The No. 1 tiebreaker is head-to-head. They won't play in the regular season. Number two is conference record. The Jaguars are 7-1 with a tough game at Tennessee on Dec. 26. Indy is 7-2. The No. 3 tiebreaker is record among common opponents, but both clubs must have played a minimum of four common opponents and the Jags will have played only three common opponents with Indy this year.

"We're certainly aware of what's going on around the league," said Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin, one of the NFL's masters of detail.

Coughlin has a reputation for not running up scores. If his club is on an opponent's 10 late in the game and he's leading comfortably, his history is not to even try a field goal. But if integrity smacks up against home-field advantage, you can figure out for yourself where Coughlin will be headed.

Signing frenzy

Next year's free agency list is going to produce the greatest array of talent since the system began six years ago. There is going to be a lot of money spent and the AFC East is going to be heavily raided.